Healthcare in Canada

While Canada has excellent healthcare, often available to temporary residents, it is not always immediately available to people moving to Canada to work or study. To determine your eligibility for coverage in Nova Scotia you should visit the following website:

Determine your need for travel health insurance before leaving your home country and be sure you have properly researched this information well in advance of your trip.

If you can stock up on prescription medication before coming to Canada you may find that is an inexpensive solution for short-term stays. Generally you can bring a 90 day supply of prescription medication in original packaging with an accompanying label indicating what it is and who it is prescribed to.

You can review information on bringing Personal Use medications into Canada here:

If you encounter a medical emergency while in Canada you can dial 911 from any telephone and request an ambulance or emergency response team to provide assistance. Within Nova Scotia, if you have a medical question that is not an emergency, you can dial 811 for Nova Scotia’s Primary Health Care Service

Canada does not require much in the way of vaccinations for those wishing to visit or take up residency. It is, however, generally considered good practice to have up to date booster vaccination, measles and chickenpox, as well as the annual vaccine for influenza.

When camping or hiking never drink from rivers, lakes or streams without first boiling water to remove any bacteria present. Ticks in Canada can carry Lyme disease so it’s important to check for ticks if you have been outdoors outside the city.

In winter it’s critical to protect against extreme cold with the right clothing and footwear. Even in cold weather the sun can be strong so it’s still a good idea to have sunglasses and use sunscreen on exposed skin. In the summer you should be sure to protect against sun and heat stroke by using sunglasses, sunscreen, staying hydrated, seeking shade when available, and covering exposed skin. In certain seasons mosquitos and blackflies are a nuisance, you may wish to use a skin-safe insect repellant such as OFF! to keep from being bitten.